Toby's Estate Singapore

Imagine a meal by the river, sipping coffee as time seeps past on a lazy weekend. The prime cafe choice would surely be Toby's Estate, nestled along Roberston Quay. You’d get to enjoy getting sun kissed at the alfresco or snuggle indoors for a good alone time with the speedy wifi and sockets offered at the high tables. Toby's Estate is originated from Sydney, Australia  and should be a familiar name for cafe hoppers both locally and internationally on their global expansion. 

The high ceiling made the cafe look exceedingly spacious. Furnished with a gigantic communal table at the centre and high tables by the walls, I was impressed by the Australian cafe vibe exuded from the space.

Their Pulled Pork Burger ($22) was not bad, a nice portion was served but it was nothing out of the world. Perhaps the pulled pork burger needed a longer simmer with the BBQ sauce for a richer taste instead of a drizzle before serving. Therefore, a tad dry texture on the protein. However,  it was compensated by the fibre from apple coleslaw, greens and the well toasted brioche buns. I preferred the fries that was deep fried and seasoned to perfection - not too greasy and tasty!

Well known for their coffee, their caffeine menu is a must order. Upon serving, the aroma of the coffee was so inviting that soothed my nerves instantaneously. The well crafted tulip art at the top of the flat white ($5) was pleasing to the eyes. Taste wise, there was a good balance between the milk and coffee. It had a slight bitter and acidic persona ready to pamper coffee addicts. 

The cold brew was refreshing and light yet at the same time strong and robust. Definitely less of a roller coaster ride compared to Chye Seng Huat’s. Overall, their coffee was good and the mains were decent. Toby's Estate is certainly not the kind of cafe that you’ll never return after a tick on your cafe hopping to-go-list, but at least not anytime soon unless I need to get some work done over coffee and steady wifi.

Toby's Estate
8 Rodyk Street #01-03/04
Singapore 238216
Tel: 6636 7629

Hours:
Mon-Wed: 07:30 - 18:00
Thu-Sat: 07:30 - 22:00
Sun: 07:30 - 18:00

Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters

Their white washed walls and minimalism interior design was arguably the trend starter of simplicity and clean concept amongst the new cafes we see today. Pacamara needs no further introduction for their tasty brunch menu, coffee and Instagram worthy cafe. 

If you happen to be travelling by public transport, I’d recommend you to stop at Marymount Station on the Circle Line. Be prepared to walk a distance and pray that the weather would be in your favour. 

My Truffle Benedict ($18) was trufflin’ amazing. The dish should be credited to the truffle hollandaise sauce that sets itself apart to the common dish served in most cafes today. It was definitely a cut above the rest. 

The Salted Caramel Banana French toast ($16) was well executed. It would be a perfect option to share as a dessert among your peers. Just thought that the serving was too sweet for a main and too filling for a dessert. I loved the combination of caramelized banana and crunchy granolas on the golden brown French toast.

Unlike other lattes I’ve tried, the ones at Pacarama ($5) were bold, nippy and acidic. If you are a fan of lattes with a sensual bitter aftertaste, those at Pacamara would be your cuppa. Not forgetting to commend the skilled baristas for the triple rosetta tulip latte art served! 

Their price points were above average, a little too exhaustive for a frequent café hopper. Nonetheless, it would definitely be one of my top choices when looking for a hearty brunch along Upper Thomson. 

Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters
185 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574333
Hours: 
Tue-Sun 9am-11pm 
 Closed on Mon

A Varsity & Street Crossover

Sweater: TopMan

Shirt: ASOS 

Joggers: TopMan

Sneakers: Nike Airmax 

Bag: Nike Heritage Gym Bag

A crossover on a varsity-sport and street look, I intentionally layered the tops to reveal formality from the collar. The baseball inspired sweater is one of my wardrobe favorites and I paired it a grey joggers, a pair of Nike and a casual drawstring bag. 

I tried to resonate the theme of the outfit with a mixture of brands I’m carrying. The logos shout on their personality, while the lines, patterns and details enhances dynamics to the entire outfit. I kept the colours minimally toned to a dark palette featuring navy, grey and black colours. 

Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Surrounded by lanes of hardware shops in the vincinity, Chye Seng Huat Hardware could easily be crowned as one of the best chill-out places for hipsters. On top of their vintage and rustic exterior, I liked how chic and trendy the interior was furnished. The space was well lit from the natural lighting but retained dimness that made the entire experience comforting.

We seek refuge from the unforgiving weather and sat indoors by the coffee bar. It was somehow entertaining to see the baristas at work cranking their pitchers and crafting latte arts. I’d always admire baristas who treat their coffee seriously and I must say those at Chye Seng Huat are exceptional.

Chye Seng Huat serves friggin’ good coffee and perhaps mains, but they come with a price. My Papa Pork Burger ($18) was surprisingly well-executed. Capped with charcoal buns, the burger had homemade pork patty and pineapple chutney in between and chips by the side. I should give credit to the sweetness of the pineapple chutney that made the entire burger beyond appetising.  But chef, may I have fries and a handful of greens instead of chips?

The Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict ($16) was pretty decent. There’s nothing much to shout about. Their croissant was buttery and fluffy, a good choice for a light meal.

I find their cold brew ($7) rather interesting. The first sip wasn’t as inviting as what I expected, it was acidic and I was immediately struck awake by its uniqueness. The real impact lies in the strong and bitter aftertaste. What an experience to remember!

Probably the best latte I’ve had, every ounce of it was earthy, fragrant and rich. One of our favourites was definitely the Hartmann Special Brew. Naturally embraced with a tint sweetness and light on acidity, it was so soothing to the taste buds.

Chye Seng Huat’s coffee was definitely the highlight of the cafe adventure. With every cup filled with furnace and character, I’d love to visit again after gaining more knowledge on coffee! Till next time!

Chye Seng Huat Hardware
150 Tyrwhitt Road, 207563
6396 0609
Hours:
Tue - Fri: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sat - Sun: 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
Closed on Mondays

Cake Spade

"The Kate Spade in the bakery industry."  Hands down to Cake Spade’s punny shop name that strike a chord with ladies who love bags and what not, sweet treats. Get ready to be spoilt for choice as the small and cozy bakery located around Tanjong Pagar offers a wide array of cake flavours. 

Count yourself lucky if you manage get a seat in the air-conditioned shop which could barely host six customers. Alternatively, you can enjoy some vitamin D on your skin while having your slice of cake outside the storefront. You may wish to get yourself a glass of iced-latte to go with the cakes like how we did. There wasn’t anything special about the ice latte, so don’t treat it too seriously. Otherwise, prepare tissue papers to wipe your perspiration away. 

The Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake ($5.90) is definitely a must-eat at Cake Spade. I’m not a fan of cheesecake because of the ‘gelat’ feeling after consumption. However, the Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake proved me wrong. The top layer of jelly and strawberries neutralised impeccably well with the light tofu cheesecake and cookie crust at the bottom. I would have bought a few slices home if I wasn’t heading to somewhere else thereafter. 

We wanted something citrus to go with the Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake and hence ordered a slice of Lemon Meringue Cake. It was an interesting flavour, but it didn’t win my heart. Relatively good to have, but I’d rather grab another slice of the Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake. Nonetheless, plus points for their creativity to invent flavours!

Trust me! If I’m working around the area, Cake Spade would definitely be my weekly tea time sin. 

Cake Spade 

1 Tras Link, #01-06, Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867

6444 3868

freshlybaked@cakespade.com

Mon to Thurs: 12pm to 9pm

Fri & Sat: 12pm to 10.30pm

Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays

Lola's Cafe

It was my first visit to the highly raved Lola's café. Lola's Café have been gathering a strong following of loyal patrons over the years and many braved long waiting time to relish their legendary brunch menu. I finally took a day off for a causal catch-up with my peers who live in the east and highly recommended the cafe for brunch (10am to 3pm). 

Lola's café is located at Simon Road, barely a five-minute walk away from Kovan MRT. To prevent long waiting time/hours in the humid weather, do remember to make a reservation the day before. They do not allow reservation to be made on the same day. 

I did not do much research prior and thankfully reached an hour earlier before the meeting time to get a queue number.  The waiting time was exactly an hour before we were directed to our tables. 

I ordered Farmhouse Brats ($10), Pork sausage bun with nacho cheese sauce, purple slaw and potato fries. The protein was juicy and savory, well paired with the other fillings. Had a cup of Flat white ($5) and it was thick with the right level of bitterness. 

I had the entire plate of Honey Paprika Crispy Wings ($10) all by myself. The wings were fried to perfection, generously peppered with paprika and honey drizzled on top. I couldn’t be bothered about any image and dug it with my bare hands. It was totally worth having my fingers oiled which I get finicky about. 

Had a bite my friend’s Breakfast Butter Croissant ($14) and it tasted heavenly. The croissant was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You could literally taste the layers of butter tediously folded in the preparation process. In between the croissant, it was filled with scrambled eggs, honey bacon, pork ham, cheddar cheese and a generous serving of garden salad. 

The service was impeccable and the floor crew tended to our needs politely and efficiently. The only drawback was the waiting time, just remember to make your reservation the day before and it will be good. Food was exceptional, great service and totally worth every penny. 

Lola's Cafe could easily make it to one of the top ten cafes to visit in Singapore on my personal list. No wonder the hype and tons of good reviews about it. If you haven’t been there, you’re missing out a lot.

Lola’s Café

Address: 5 Simon Rd, S545893

Tel: 6284 0349

Email: contact@lolascafe.com.sg

Hours:

Monday Closed

Tuesday 10:00 am – 11:30 pm

Wednesday 10:00 am – 11:30 pm

Thursday 10:00 am – 11:30 pm

Friday 10:00 am – 12:00 am

Saturday 10:00 am – 12:00 am

Sunday 10:00 am – 11:30 pm

Letoile Cafe

Recalled my first trip to Letoile Cafe a year back and enjoyed the spacious upper deck. Based on impression, I loved the white walls and furnitures with all sorts of concepts pieced together. Every corner felt very customised and the vintage artefacts placed around blended well in the casual and free concept. The homely vibe made it an optimal spot for catchup, therefore a return trip to the cafe. 

However, it wasn’t a lucky day on my second trip to Letoile Cafe when we found out that the second level was temporary closed (for renovation) upon arrival. We went ahead to dine on the first storey since we travelled all the way down from the west. The experience was not as great as the first due to the bustle of the intense lunch time crowd.

Nothing could ever go wrong at Letoile Cafe with their brunch sets, mainly their Big Breakfast meal ($16.90) and Eggs Benedict ($14.90). As usual I paired my brunch with a cup of Flat White ($4.50) get my caffeine addiction fixed for the day. 

My Egg Benedict was slightly better than average. The eggs were perfectly poached and the light acidity from the hollandaise sauce lingered over levelled the entire taste. It came with a good portion of fresh vegetable salad to add fibre the meal. The Flat White was brilliant; strong, robust and nutty!

The Big Breakfast Meal cames with well toasted bread, sausages, bacon, grilled tomatoes, salad and choice of eggs (scrambled, sunny sideup, over-dry or omelette). 

On the other hand, the Beef Steak Sandwich ($19.90) ordered by another friend went on opposite direction compared to the breakfast sets. It was served with a generous amount of fries (could taste a tint of truffle in it) and salad but the main highlight wasn’t pleasing. The beef steak was overly done and tasted like jerky. The pastry bread was tough and was too hard to slice. Definitely a little too difficult for my lady friend to handle. 

In a nutshell, the temporary closure of the upper deck affected the overall experience. It did not felt complete. Nonetheless, I’m still looking forward to the next visit again (hopefully a surprising revamp) for a quiet brunch digging on Big Breakfast and Egg Benedict with my companions. 

Letoile Cafe

160 Owen Road, Singapore 218953

6298 2872

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 11:00-22:00

Sat, Sun & PH: 0900-22:00

Old Hen Coffee Bar

Finally had the chance to visit Old Hen Coffee after hearing so much about their cold brew that was flooding my Instagram news feed.  The café is conveniently located at Rangoon Road, a road across Farrer Park MRT station from Exit (B). Travelling there was fuss free due to its accessibility via public transport. 

The café is cozy and conducive for discussions. No wonder the space was mostly filled with students busy on their projects, typing vigorously on their notebooks. The entire café was fully occupied even on a Thursday late afternoon; we made do with the high tables by the windowpane.

I didn’t mind compromising personal space for their fine coffee and cake served. I ordered their Signature Creamy White Cold Brew ($6.50) and a slice of Strawberry Balsamic Cake ($8.00). The prices were not inexpensive, but everything tasted darn good.

The Creamy White Cold Brew stored in a charmed glass bottle was silky, cool and soothing. Not too sugared and perfectly chilled, I couldn’t find a better option to combat the scorching weather. On the other hand, the Strawberry Balsamic Cake tasted surprisingly delicious. It was dense, moist and not overly creamy. The icing had a jello texture, making every bite fulfilling.

My friend ordered a Matcha Latte ($5) and Hot Chocolate ($5) and both didn’t disappoint. I preferred the Matcha Latte to the latter.  It was well concentrated with a rich amount of green tea powder and steamed milk. I appreciate their less sweetened Matcha latte compared to Starbuck’s. 

Besides, Old Hen newly revamped menu offers burgers, sandwiches and waffles. We were too full for mains but we definitely hope to try them soon! 

Old Hen Coffee Bar
88 Rangoon Road #01-03, Singapore 218374
Mon: 12.00pm - 10:00pm
Wed - Fri: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Sat - Sun: 10:00am - 10:00pm

Matcha Strawberry Cake

The spongy texture of shortcake filled with immense Matcha flavour accompanied with refreshingly sour-sweet strawberries could simply melt in your melt on your high tea chill out. 

Matcha Strawberry cake has always been one of the top to-bakes on my list and I conquered it on my first try. With references to several online recipes and ideas, I combined texture of Japanese Strawberry Shortcake to serve with green tea flavour and replaced the too-much-will-make-me-sick whipped cream to cream cheese frosting. Thankfully, it worked out fine and tasted better than expected. 

I presented my it with the look of a naked cake to prevent the cream cheese from overpowering the matcha flavour. However, do note that naked cake would be best consumed within 2-3 days as the exposed areas of the cake tend to dry out in the fridge. Enjoy the recipe! 

Ingredients:

Sponge Cake

2 Eggs *room temperature

60g Granulated Sugar

20g Melted Unsalted Butter

60g Cake flour

10g of Matcha powder 

Note: If you do not have cake flour at home, measure out 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Remove 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and place it back in your flour canister. Replace the removed all-purpose flour with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift flour 5 times to fully incorporate. Weight out 60g 

Decoration:

Cream Cheese Frosting

120g of Unsalted Butter

120g of Cream Cheese 

2 cups of Icing Sugar

1 tsp of Vanilla extract

Fresh strawberries

Directions:

Sponge Cake

1. Line the round cake pan with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 170C

2. Beat eggs with wire whisk in a metal bowl. Mix sugar and place it over a bowl of hot water and melt the sugar and warm them up to body temperature. Then remove from the hot water and beat the batter on high speed with an electric mixer until white and fluffy. Then on low speed, beat for about a minute to set the texture.

3. Sift in flour and matcha powder mixture little by little and gently cut through the mixture with wire whisk until somewhat combined. Then using spatula, sprinkle melted butter, and quickly lift up the batter to mix.

4. Pour the batter from heights of 11 inches (30 cm) into the pan (like ribbon) and drop the pan lightly on the counter to raise the air bubbles out of the batter.

5. Bake at 170C (338F) for 25 minutes.

6. Place a cutting board and a paper towel on a wire rack. Then place the cake pan upside down and cool with the pan on top.

7. When it's completely cool, use a knife and slice the cake into two layers. Otherwise, wrap with plastic wrap and rest the sponge cake in the fridge for a few hours. *you can store it in the fridge for 2 to 3 days and decorate the cake when needed

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer

2. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time until smooth and creamy

3. Beat in the vanilla extract

With references from: 

Ochikeron 

Food Network